St. Thomas Cruise Port Guide: Best Things to Do

Most ships pull into Havensight, which is the main cruise pier just east of the capital, Charlotte Amalie. A few ships dock at Crown Bay on the other side of the harbor, so check your daily planner the night before, because it changes where your taxi rides start and how long they take. Havensight has a shopping village right at the pier with shops, restrooms, and a few places to grab a cold drink, so even if you only have a short window you can stretch your legs without going far.

Here's my honest tip: St. Thomas runs almost entirely on open-air shared taxis, and they leave when they fill up, not on a schedule. Agree on the price before you climb in, since fares are usually per person and posted but worth confirming. I always keep my hands free and my essentials zipped up while I'm hopping in and out of taxis all day, so I don't have to think about it. A slim crossbody you can wear across your body makes the whole shuffle of getting in and out of vehicles so much easier.

If you only do one thing in St. Thomas, make it a beach, and the two big names are Magens Bay and Coki Beach. Magens is the famous crescent of calm, soft water that shows up on all the postcards, and it's gentle enough for floating around and easy swimming. There's a small entry fee, plus chair and umbrella rentals, and it's about a twenty to thirty minute taxi ride over the mountain. The views on the drive alone are worth it, I promise.

Coki Beach sits next to Coral World on the east end and is the snorkeling spot, with lots of fish hanging around right off the sand. It's livelier and more crowded with vendors, so it's a different vibe than the mellow sweep of Magens. Wherever you land, the rocks and coral can be rough underfoot, so I always wear water shoes to save my feet, and I bring a towel that actually dries fast so I'm not lugging a soggy one back to the ship.

St. Thomas isn't just sand. One of my favorite splurges is taking a ferry over to St. John for a half day, where the national park beaches like Trunk Bay are unreal. It eats up more of your time, so only do this if you're confident in the ferry timing and your all-aboard window. If you'd rather stay put, the Skyride up to Paradise Point gives you that sweeping harbor view with your ship sitting in the bay below, and it's quick if your clock is tight.

For something more active, snorkel and sail trips, kayak-and-snorkel combos, and historic Charlotte Amalie walking tours are all popular. I usually book the ones that involve boats or timed entry ahead of time, because the good ones fill up and you don't want to gamble your one day in port on availability. Booking in advance also means a guide is tracking the clock for you, which takes a load off when you're trying to relax.

Charlotte Amalie is the historic capital and the duty-free shopping hub, with little alleys lined with shops tucked into old warehouse buildings. Even if you're not buying anything, wandering the side streets and finding spots like the 99 Steps staircase or the old fort is a lovely, low-cost way to soak up the island. It's walkable from Havensight, or a very short taxi hop if it's hot, which, let's be real, it usually is.

For lunch, I like grabbing local Caribbean food over generic tourist fare whenever I can, and you'll find roti, fresh fish, and cold drinks all over town. I carry a small packable daypack so I can stash water, sunscreen, and my towel for the day, then fold it away to nothing when I don't need it. That way I'm not buying overpriced bottled water at every stop and I always have a free hand for a plate of something delicious.